Post by Speede on Sept 30, 2012 3:11:39 GMT -5
There’s an old saying, ‘reach for the stars’, that gets passed around quite a bit. It’s one of those sayings that means that basically one can accomplish whatever one wants to if one tries hard enough and focus hard enough on achieving one’s goals. However, reaching for the stars isn’t always in the best interest of a competitor, because he or she may fall short of accomplishing his or her goals, and in some cases it may hinder his or her opportunities for accomplishment in the future for his or her life. By all reality, if everyone achieved his or her goals, there would never be anyone who had to deal with defeat, and there would be a whole new standard for goals and how to accomplish them. For example, if everyone wanted to write an award winning novel, none of the books would be special if everyone accomplished that goal. It’s the same way in the wrestling world, and while every wrestler may dream of seeing his or her name up in lights and holding the World Championship belt high in the air, if everyone did it, going after the belt in the first place wouldn’t be worth the effort it takes, and striving to accomplish that feat wouldn’t be special, nor even truly worth it. In some way, shape, or form, one has to come to the realization that only those who are truly talented can achieve their dreams.
There have to be those that never accomplish their goals in every way of life, and wrestling is no exception. Sure, everyone in the WCF has made it to the elite company, but there are those within the WCF that just are not going to go anywhere as far as success is concerned. One could use whatever term he or she wants to describe those people, but simply put, they are commonly known as jobbers. Whether one can move past the level of ‘jobber’ and actually become a competitor of worth to the company depends on one’s determination and dedication to the company, but more than that it depends on wrestling ability and pure talent. There are those that have it, and there are those that simply don’t, and in the WAR match, those two wrestling stereotypes of people are blended together in one melting pot of a match so spectacular that the casual wrestling observer watching the WAR match for the first time would run the risk of his or her brain exploding from the impressive nature of the fight. And yet, somehow the match wouldn’t be quite as spectacular without the less talented wrestlers in the match, because not only would there be less competitors, but it would make some of those with actual wrestling ability look like jobbers for the sake of the match actually being pulled off successfully. Putting on a match like the WAR with only five competitors wouldn’t make it a WAR match, now would it?
The answer to that question is a stern but serious ‘No!’ One could obviously see who in the WAR match is going to be successful and who isn’t just by first glance, but whether or not that’s actually a good thing depends on the competitor, and in the WAR match, not showing one’s true potential is all but the death of a career. That’s one of the things that makes the WAR match one of the most important and most difficult to win matches of the entire year, no matter who the competitors in the match are. One of those things, of course, other than the guaranteed World Title shot and the marking down of one’s name in the record books as a WAR winner, any of which would be something that could give any wrestler’s career a big jump forward; granted, one would need to cash in his or her World Title shot and actually win the belt, or it would be a waste because winning the shot simply isn’t enough under most circumstances, but winning the WAR match in the first place is one of the most impressive feats any WCF wrestler can accomplish. They were the ones who broke free from the pack and showed that they truly belonged in the main events of pay per views, and they are the ones we all try to emulate every year when we go into the WAR match looking to walk out the victor.
That brings me to another point- past WAR winners are the ones that pave the way for a new opportunity and a new winner to arise and claim victory as his or her own. Some of the greatest wrestlers in the history of our beloved company went on to win WAR matches; people like Slickie T, Johnny Reb, Gravedigger, Skyler Striker, and Logan, three times in fact, are the kinds of guys we look up to and try to measure up to when we make our way down that ramp at WAR and enter the ring. Sure, we have two of those names competing again this year, even if one of them has gone through surgery to change genders and gotten a wig, but they’re the ones that we all try to outshine when we fight in the WAR match, and even so much as eliminating them becomes a significant feat, although nothing compared to the true glory that is winning the match itself. There are those that say that they have what it takes to win the WAR match, and there are those that say that everyone else doesn’t have what it takes to win the WAR match, and that brings me back to a point that I made earlier this week. Just because someone has the courage to sit behind a computer and talk smack, or shoot a video alongside his or her friends, doesn’t mean they have what it takes once that bell rings and they get into the squared circle in an attempt to fight, and in reality, most of them don’t have what it takes.
So while I may sound like a hypocrite, I don’t promise victory; I merely promise the lack of fear and the heart to do my very best in that match and hope that it’s enough to walk away with the victory. So while I post blog posts and shoot promotional videos for my matches, I stand by my words when I say that just because I have confidence and think I’m going to win, there’s no guarantee... This time, however, I’m going to change that. This time, I’m going to go for the gold and I have the full intention of walking out of the WAR match the victor. But words don’t mean a thing without the actions to back it up, and in order for me to be at my best, I need to train, so citizens of Speede Nation, this is where I sign out and leave you to your lives, and when WAR comes, this one’s for each and every one of my fans. This is The Silver Lining, signing off.
Nolan Walker and Tony Tate are in the gym having a wrestling match when the door opens and in walks Roy Speede, bags under his eyes from tiredness and a bandage over his right eye. Tony and Nolan stop what they’re doing as the door swings shut and look over at him. Tony shakes his head and leans over the top rope, looking out at Roy with a disappointed look on his face.
Tony Tate: “You’re late, Speedo. And two days before your match, too. Any reasoning behind this, or are you just late for the heck of it?”
Roy Speede: “Yeah, Tony, I have a reason for it. I didn’t sleep at all last night. That moment last month at the Revenge pay per view kept playing in my head, over and over and over, and it was driving me nuts. I mean, my own cousin stabbed me in the back after everything I did for him, and I just-“
Nolan cuts him off.
Nolan Walker: “Whatever it is, Roy, don’t ya worry about a thing! Ya just need ta focus on yer training and getting ready fer the big match this Sunday. After all, ya only got two days ta prepare yerself.”
Roy Speede: “You probably are about right with that one, Nolan, but I’m not overly worried.”
Tony Tate: “If you’re not worried about the outcome of the match, why have you come to the gym for eight hours a day each of the last three days?”
Roy Speede: “I’ve got to stay in shape, Tate. If I don’t stay in top physical form, I would actually have something to worry about.”
Nolan Walker: “He’s got a point there, Tony. Ya don’t get ta where he is by slacking off and lazing around all day.”
Tony Tate: “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Nolan, take a break. I’m going to focus on training Speedo one on one this time.”
Nolan Walker: “Actually, Tony, if ya don’t mind, I’m gonna leave a bit early. I know I said I was gonna stay till noon, but I want ta get a shower before lunch. I’m going ta get a bite ta eat with an old friend of mine and catch up. We haven’t talked in a year or so now and getting a chance ta talk ta her without everyone breathing down my neck would be good, ah?”
Tony Tate: “Yeah, you do that, Walker. I don’t care. Two days left, and I gotta focus on the top prospect right now.”
Nolan nods his head and slides out of the ring as Roy slides into the ring and hits the ropes, running back and forth. He stops after a couple of laps and starts stretching his arms, and then his legs. Nolan smirks as he goes to the back room, and Tony watches Roy.
Tony Tate: “I’ve taught you well it looks like, Roy. I’m going to go grab a couple bottles of water, and then we’ll get started.”
Tate steps through the ropes and drops down from the ring apron before turning toward the back of the building. Nolan comes walking out at this point in a pair of jeans and a tee shirt, and nods his head.
Nolan Walker: “So, Roy, while yer waiting, tell me, what’s Abbie been up ta lately? We’re going ta catch up and I wanna know what ta expect.”
Roy Speede: “You’re going on a date with my girlfriend?!”
Nolan Walker: “No, Roy, we’re just hanging out cause we’re friends! I wouldn’t do that ta ya, especially after what happened with Alex.”
Roy Speede: “Well... Alright, bro. But I want you guys to come back by here afterwards. I want to talk to her in person.”
Nolan Walker: “What, don’t ya trust me, Roy? I’m not gonna do anthing I shouldn’t be with her. I just want ta catch up with her since I haven’t spoken ta her since when we were a team back some eighteen months ago.”
Roy Speede: “I trust you, Nolan. I just want to talk to her, you know, ask her to come down to the ring to celebrate with me when I win the WAR match, since I’ve got a little surprise for her that she can show off, since I’ve got my Hardcore Championship, and in three months I’ll have the World Title.”
Nolan Walker: “Yer gonna ask her ta marry ya, ah?”
Roy Speede: “I want to, man. I mean, she’s been there for me watching my back every step of the way, and I love her more than anything, man. She knows my passion for wrestling almost as good as I do, and she understands the risks I take by going out there every week and fighting. She knows how dedicated I am to the company and how hard I’ll fight to accomplish my goals in the company, and yet she still supports me even knowing the risks I take. If that’s not a show of love, I don’t know what is, man...”
Nolan Walker: “I see what ya mean, Roy. And I understand why yer so worried about me and yer girl hanging out together. Tell ya what, though. I’ll see if I can’t convince her ta get takeout and bring the food back here so we can eat together here and ya can keep an eye on us, and maybe I’ll even bring ya something if ya ask me.”
Roy Speede: “Where are you going for lunch?”
Nolan Walker: “Originally we were gonna go ta Olive Garden, but I think we might end up picking something different if we’re only gonna be getting takeout, ah!”
Roy Speede: “Alright, that sounds fine... Hey, you know what’s taking Tate so long?”
Nolan Walker: Yeah, Roy. I think Tate said he had ta expel the hamster.”
Roy Speede: “What?”
Nolan Walker: “He’s taking a shit.”
Roy Speede:” Lovely...”
Nolan Walker: “Isn’t it just? Well anyway, I’m gonna go, Roy. Talk ta ya in a while!”
Nolan pushes open the front door to the gym and walks out, and Roy sighs as he waits for Tate. After about five minutes, Tate comes back with two water bottles, one in each hand, and tosses one to Roy in the ring as he climbs the steps up onto the apron.
Roy Speede: “Finally! My hair was turning white again, and I mean in a manner other than how I used to dye it.”
Tony Tate: “Keep your socks on, Speedo. I had to take a crap so I didn’t end up shitting my pants in the ring.”
Roy Speede: “That’s a good point. I wouldn’t want that to happen, and I imagine none of your other students would either. Did you wash your hands at least?”
Tony Tate: “Of course. I always do. Now let’s go! Set the water bottle down, and let’s get this practice started.”
Roy Speede: “Sure thing. And by the way, Nolan and Abbie are bringing their lunch back here instead of eating at the restaurant. Want anything from Olive Garden?”
Tony Tate: “No, Roy. I’m fine. Let’s just get this started. I want to make sure you get all the practice you need before Sunday.”
Roy Speede: “Okay, suit yourself.”
The two lock up, collar and elbow, and the shot cuts to Abbie and Nolan in the passenger’s seat and driver’s seat of a larger SUV type vehicle, perhaps a Chevrolet Tahoe. Abbie has a big bag with the Olive Garden logo on the side of it sitting on her lap, and Nolan is focusing on the road. Abbie’s hair is dyed a vibrant red, something different from her usual dark hair color.
Abbie Grande: “So did you already hit the gym today to help train with Roy, or is this your first ride over there today?”
Nolan Walker: “I’ve already been there once, but I left early so I could be on time ta pick ya up, Abbie and we didn’t get ta train together at all yet. But rather then worry about him, tell me, what have ya been up ta the last however long it’s been since I’ve talked ta ya? The whole idea was ta catch up on old times, ah?”
Abbie Grande: “Well, you know before I got into managing Roy I was studying law, and during recent times I’ve actually been an on again off again police officer down in Richmond. It’s kind of exciting, and I’m glad I can keep the city safe, but I’m much happier up here with Roy. Know what I mean?”
Nolan Walker: “I know exactly what ya mean, hun. Being with the one ya love is an amazing feeling, and I have a girl back in Ireland that I was hoping would come with me ta the States. She just didn’t make it.”
Abbie Grande: “What’s she’s like?”
Nolan Walker: “She’s incredible. She’s smart, charming, and beautiful, and I really do love getting ta spend time with her. I made her promise me that she’d come to the States with me by the end of next month if I don’t go back right away or that next trip out here she’d join me. I hope that isn’t too big of a problem with Roy or Tate, ah?”
Abbie Grande: “Oh, not a bit. I know Roy, and he’ll be happy for you, hearing that you’ve got yourself a girlfriend and all. After all, you hit the nail on the head; there’s nothing like spending time with the person you love.”
Nolan Walker: I’m not so worried about Roy. I’m worried about what Tony is going ta think about it since he’s always straight ta the point about focusing and training.”
Abbie Grande: “Well, if you say she is, I bet so.”
Nolan Walker: “She really is, but if I’m going ta be really honest with ya, she wasn’t my first attraction. If Roy hadn’t found ya first I’d have asked ya out myself, Abbie.”
Abbie’s face turns slightly red.
Abbie Grande: “Nolan, don’t say that! Your girlfriend is the one you should show interest in, not me!”
Nolan Walker: I know, I know, but I never even got ta kiss ya or anything before Roy found ya, and I’m starting to wonder if I ever will get ta do it.”
Abbie Grande: “Nolan, that’s sweet, but I’m with Roy, and I don’t think that’s going to change. And even if it did, I like you as a friend, but not like that.”
Nolan Walker: “Good, Abbie. Ya passed my test. I was making sure Roy made the right choice with ya. Hope ya don’ t mind the teasing though. I always knew ya were the right girl for him.”
Abbie feigns a laugh.
Abbie Grande: “No, no, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
The vehicle pulls into the parking lot of the gym and the two get out, Abbie a bit slower than Nolan because of the bag of food.
Nolan Walker: “Here, Abbie, let me carry that for ya.”
Abbie hands off the bag of food to Nolan, and he starts walking toward the gym. Abbie sighs, shaking her head, and mumbles under her breath.
Abbie Grande: “Now I remember why I stopped talking to this moron.”
Nolan looks over her shoulder.
Nolan Walker: “Did ya say something Abbie?”
Abbie Grande: “Oh, no, I’m alright. I said I can’t wait to see Roy though, and I hope he has his game face on.”
Nolan Walker: “Oh, okay. That’s fine then.”
Nolan opens the door to the gym and Abbie walks in first, followed closely behind by the Irishman. He takes the food over to the table and sets the bag down, and then looks over at the ring as Roy and Tony break up their fighting and slide out of the ring almost simultaneously, walking toward the table. Roy collects a handful of hand sanitizer from the dispenser on the wall, and Tony does the same.
Nolan Walker: “Alright, both of ya, I’ve got food for ya. I know ya said ya didn’t want anything, Tony, but ya need ta keep up yer strength with all this working out, and I figured I could at least get ya something.”
Tony Tate: “Oh, no, that’s a good thing. I’m glad you did, actually. I’m starting to get hungry.”
Roy Speede: “Thanks for bringing all this, guys. Abbie, boy am I glad to see you! And you dyed your hair! I love it!”
Abbie Grande: “You’re happy to see me? Any reason, or do you just like seeing a female when you’re in the ring on occasion?”
Roy Speede: “Well, it’s you that I like seeing in my corner when I’m in the ring, but mainly it’s because of... um... Well, I haven’t talked to you yet today, and that’s unusual, so seeing your smiling face is a relaxing breather.”
Abbie Grande: “Of course, Roy. I like being able to spend time with you. Oh, and thank you for that compliment of my hair. I knew you liked redheads and I thought I’d give it a try.”
Roy Speede: “You look amazing, Abbie. I mean, you always look amazing, but this red hair thing brings a whole new aspect to your appearance. Like really, just, um... wow.”
Nolan Walker: “Shut up and eat, lover boy. I don’t want ta have ta come over there and shut ya up myself.”
Roy sighs, shakes his head, and then picks up one of the boxes of food, one that holds inside a big box of lasagna. Abbie grabs another box, and then Tony takes a bowl of soup as Nolan sighs.
Nolan Walker: “Don’t tell me all yer planning ta have is the soup, Tony.”
Tony Tate: “It’s not, Nolan. Don’t worry. I’m just starting with the soup because soup is a standard appetizer is all.”
Nolan Walker: “Oh, okay. That’s fine then. I just don’t want ya ta go hungry.”
Tony nods his head. As the four sit down to eat, the camera cuts to Roy’s locker room. Roy is sitting on the couch in a pair of jeans and a Hollywood Undead tee shirt watching one of the promotional videos released by Steeltoe Joe for the WAR match. There is a knock at the door, and Roy gets up, going to the door, and opens it. Nolan Walker is standing outside.
Nolan Walker: “Hey Roy, what are ya doing in here man? The WAR match is tomorrow and this isn’t exactly what I’d call training.”
Roy Speede: “I’m watching some of the other competitors’ promotional videos to see what they have to say about the match. I don’t want to go ‘uninformed’ on who else is confident they’ll win the match, you know?”
Nolan Walker: “Quit yer sarcasm, Roy, and let me in. Abbie isn’t here right now, is she?”
Roy steps to one side and lets Nolan come into the room, closing the door behind him.
Roy Speede: “No, why?”
Nolan Walker: “What the heck happened, man? I thought ya were gonna ask Abbie ta come down ta the ring after yer WAR match so ya could propose to her.”
Roy Speede: “I guess I kinda got cold feet. Asking a woman to marry you takes the right moment, Nolan, and even setting up that right moment isn’t exactly the easiest task in the world when it all relies on you to begin with, you know? I mean, if it were something a bit less dependent on me, it’d be a lot less nerve wracking than it is because I’d know what the hell I was doing.”
Nolan Walker: “Calm down, Roy. There’s no pressure on ya ta ask her ta marry ya at WAR. If ya don’t do it now, ya can do it when ya win the World Title at One, and it’d be an even more special event. Hell, ya could walk out of there a double champ and that way ya could each have a belt on yer shoulders, and it’d be that much more entertaining!”
Roy Speede: “Asking her to marry me isn’t about entertainment, Nolan. I mean, everything else about my wrestling career has been for the fans, but popping the question to Abbie is going to be about her and about the two of us, whether the fans are a part of it or not, and whether they’re entertained by it or not. And excuse me if that sounds mean, but it’s the truth, and it’s what I’m going to stick to when I ask her the question.”
Nolan Walker: “So if yer not gonna do it tomorrow night after yer WAR win, when are ya gonna do it?”
Roy Speede: “That’s a good question, bro, but then that raises another question. What if I ask her to meet me at ringside and I don’t win the WAR?”
Nolan Walker: “Then yer still gonna have ta find another time ta ask her, but the last thing ya want ta do is not try.”
Roy Speede: “Believe me, Nolan. I’m going to be trying like crazy to win this match. And as far as asking Abbie goes, I’ll do it when the time feels right.”
Nolan Walker: “Ya already got yer diamond picked out ta give her then?”
Roy Speede: “Absolutely! I’m not going to be dumb enough to ask a woman to marry me without an engagement ring. That’s like asking a pro tennis player for tips on how to play baseball; it just doesn’t work.”
Nolan Walker; “If ya want ta talk about what doesn’t work, try mentioning all of the hundreds of thousands of people that don’t have jobs thanks ta the crappy job the last couple presidents have done.”
Roy Speede: “I hear that man... Well hey, I’m going to get back to listening to these interviews, and maybe study some film from previous WAR matches if you don’t mind?”
Nolan Walker: “Not a bit, Roy. I’ve gotta call my girlfriend back in Ireland anyway.”
Roy Speede: “You’ve got a girlfriend now?”
Nolan Walker: “Ya’re damn right I do. I want her ta come ta the states too so I can introduce her ta ya.”
Roy Speede: “That’s nice, bro, but can we do that some other time?”
Nolan Walker: “Sure thing, bro. Good luck in yer match man, and keep in touch. I’ll talk ta ya later!”
Nolan opens the door and steps out of Roy’s locker room. Roy returns to the couch and changes the DVDs, popping in a disk showing WAR IX. The scene cuts to the day of WAR, and Roy Speede is standing by with Hank Brown. Each of them has a microphone, and they’re in the interview area.
Hank Brown: “Well, Roy, are you ready for this?”
Roy Speede: “I’m always ready.”
Hank Brown: “Alright. Just thought I’d ask to make sure, but here we go... Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! I’m Hank Brown, and at this time I have with me none other than the WCF’s Hardcore Champion and The Silver Lining of professional wrestling, Roy Speede! Now Roy, I interviewed you several days ago, and at that point you had quite a lot you wanted to get off your chest. Anything you’d like to say in general before I get started on the questions?”
Roy Speede: “I’ve got quite a lot I’d like to say, Hank, but the question remains how much of that I’ll actually decided I need to say. Simply put, Hank, a lot of my thoughts lately haven’t been exactly what we’d call television legal, and since I figure this thing is going to be airing, there are a lot of things that I would probably be better off not saying. But I will go into detail and say that this week has been one of the most interesting weeks of my life if nothing else, and that I’m proud to be here as a competitor in the WAR match, and anyone who gets in my way come my entry into the match better look out, because when Roy Speede sets foot in that ring, I’m not looking back for anyone nor anything. Sure I’ll be watching my back, but I mean more of a figurative sense; WAR is going to be a step up for me, beyond what I’m used to, and beyond what everyone else is used to, and if thirty or more opponents want to get in my way and try to stop me, I’ll thoroughly enjoy taking each and every one of them down one by one, two by two, three by three, whatever I have to do to show that I’m not the fluke of a Hardcore Champion everyone thinks I am. I deserve the belt I’ve got, and I stand firm in the belief that it’s just a matter of time until I get my shot at the World Championship; if anything, WAR is actually a stepping stone on the road to the World Title, and I’m going to be putting one foot in front of the other until I run out of pavement to follow. And even then, I’m going to take the dirt path and see just how far up the ladder of success it’ll lead me.
No, no, in all seriousness, and when I say seriousness I mean with some comic relief because we all know that nobody ever succeeded in anything by being a boring old prick and staring off into space like a moron, I’m setting aside all of my hate-filled rivalries with the goal in mind of obtaining the World Championship. The odds are against me, but they’ve always been against me, so why should this time be any different? I’m going to do what I always do and that’s come out on top, anyway, so why shouldn’t I focus on what really matters in the WAR match? Granted, the WAR match is a chance for me to take a shot at each and every one of my enemies in this company, but that’s not what my main focus is in the least; I don’t care if I wind up nose to nose with Brad Kane himself in the WAR match, I’m setting aside anger and hatred and going on to be crowned as the winner of WAR XI. That means that all my enemies don’t have a target on their backs in my eyes specifically, but that everyone in the match has a target on his or her back because, when it all comes down to it, I’m not going to target any one person over any other; I’m going to make sure I win this one because, when I say that not everyone can have his or her way when it comes to always winning, I mean that anyone who gets in my way is going to be disappointed, and probably hurting quite a bit too. Sure, there are quite a few people in this match who I haven’t had a problem with and who don’t have a problem with me, but they’ll be targets just the same because this WAR match is the one match of the year that features everyone on the roster, and I’m going to go after everyone on the roster because I can and because that’s what I have to do if I’m going to win.
Or rather, that’s what some people anticipate that I would have to do in order to win. I said it when you interviewed me a few days ago, Hank, and I’ll say it again; Picking one’s spots is a necessary and proper way to win the match, and going into it with blind fury and hoping for the best is sure to lead to defeat. So while I may have some hatred and rage and fury building inside me, I’m saving that for when it’s one other guy and me left in the ring, because by that point I’ll get my chance to kick some asses and take some names, whether they’re ones that particularly matter to me or not. I’ve got more of an opportunity in this match than I’ve ever had before, Hank, and I’m not going to screw up my chances of coming out of the WAR match the victor like I did last year by running into the middle of a circle jerk in the ring and expecting that I could knock down seven guys at once. It was what lead to my downfall, and this year I don’t intend to do something like that; no, I actually expect to go into this match an underdog and walk out more of one of those ‘HOLY SHIT! I DON’T BELIEVE IT!’ kind of victors, you know, the kind that always seem to be pulling surprises out of their asses when nobody in the entire universe thinks they’ve got anything left? I’m talking about guys like Johnny Reb, who not only won last year’s WAR match, but has won the World Title three times, and always seems to shock the world by doing so. That’s the kind of victor I’m going to be, and this year is my time to show just that.”
Hank Brown: “Right, Roy. Now, before I go any further, I want to readdress the issue of stable wars. There are quite a few groups in this match, and I want to know, other than Genesis, which group do you think has the best chance of winning this thing and has the best chance of teaming up and working together cohesively in a match where every man fights for himself?”
Roy Speede: “Well, Hank, this answer might surprise you, but I honestly think that Prophecy has a good chance of working effectively together in what would otherwise be mass chaos. Hank Lane has been looking to show that he’s still got it after returning a while back, and the former tag champs are out to show that their title victory and reign, no matter how short it may have been, wasn’t a fluke. I’ll give credit to Tek and to Steeltoe Joe; I’ve seen some in-ring ability I haven’t seen out of them before in recent weeks, and they’ve got a lot of untapped potential that I think could explode in the WAR match, and that could be a bad thing for anyone and everyone in this one. Now, while I don’t think it’ll necessarily lead to a victory, and while I don’t feel that any of them are truly ready for the main event scene yet, this could establish them as a legitimate stable in the WCF if they put on a good showing, and while there are a couple of main groups in the WCF, Prophecy could be one of those dark horse teams that spoil a few people’s dreams in the WAR match here tonight. I’m not making any promises on that one, but those three men all have potential, and I think that if they get the chance to work together they’ll use it and they’ll go pretty far in this one if they find themselves able to team up and work as a unit.”
Hank Brown: “I get what you’re saying, Roy, but you have to admit, Pantheon has become a completely dominating stable over the past few months here in the WCF. What are your concerns about dealing with these guys?”
Roy Speede: “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, the problem with Pantheon in a match like this is that they’re too stacked with power and with blind arrogance from their members to be of any real threat to people except one on one. Take for instance Corey Black; the man talks a big game, and takes pride in having five World Title reigns. One thing that has eluded him over his career, however, has been a WAR victory, and I think that if it means betraying his teammates to get so much as a chance at the victory, the man who was once known as Creeping Death won’t hesitate for a minute to do so. I doubt any of them would, really, but Black has the most to add to his resume by winning the WAR match, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went solo for the duration of this thing in an attempt to do just that. However, let’s not forget the fact that they could even add a fifth member to their already star studded WAR lineup if Jonny Fly doesn’t retain the World Championship earlier in the night. If you ask me, no group of five will be able to coexist in one match in a free for all atmosphere like in the WAR match. So while most people would fear Pantheon and what they can do if they put together their talent and form as a group, I find myself only thinking mentally about the strengths and weaknesses of each member, and wondering how each one will fare without help. I think each of them could have a shot at winning it if they picked their spots properly, but in reality, when Jeff Purse or Johnny Reb are fighting against one another, or when Polar Phantasm and Corey Black end up the last two and go toe to toe for a good hour after everyone else is done, it will lead to the destruction of Pantheon in its entirety; I say that they need to put the group aside and focus on winning it individually, no regrets and no hurt feelings over one of them eliminating another.”
Hank Brown: “Understandable. Now what about the Church of Dark Saints? I know you said earlier on that you didn’t think they were worth your time to talk about. Did you want to stand firm on that statement as well?”
Roy Speede: “I still say they aren’t worth mentioning, but since you brought them up, I’ll at least explain why. First, there’s Famine of the Vile. His claim to fame is getting suspended from the company for a month after his debut match because he was on some sort of drugs or something. I don’t remember what exactly, because honestly I don’t care in the least. But what does matter is that this sorry excuse for a man is one of those whipping boys that could have an easier life if he were to stop wrestling and become, oh, say a tattoo artist? He certainly has the appearance of a lazy moron, and from what I’ve seen, his brain is to match. And speaking of lazy morons, that leads me straight to Nathan Von Liebert. Sure, he’s a former Television Champion, but in this day and age there are quite a few former TV Champs walking around. Hell, half of Pantheon are former Television Champions, and they’ve gone on to much bigger and better things than being a lapdog for a masked wrestler past his prime like Von Liebert has by aligning himself with Oblivion. Speaking of the gracious leader, why am I expected to believe he’ll win the WAR match, if you don’t mind my asking? I mean, the man is an okay wrestler, but he hasn’t done anything to show anyone that he can get it done when it matters, and I say that in terms of, especially not in the last year and a half. The last thing the man did right was beat Gravedigger for MY Hardcore Championship just shy of six months ago, and then he lost the belt three weeks later to Gein Spector of all people. Who the hell is Gein Spector? History, and that’s all. If Oblivion can’t even beat Gein Spector, how am I to believe he’s going to win the WAR match? I’m not. I’m not inclined to believe that any member of the Church of Dark Saints can win the WAR match.
And that includes the fourth member of the group that will be fighting in the WAR match, Synn, or as I’ve grown to know him, Terry Jakob Martin Russel-Roberts. Yes, that’s right. I used his full name, and if there’s any problem with that, he can come find me and tell me about it, because as far as I’m concerned, Terry is nothing more than a former ally turned enemy and a target with a Tag Team Championship belt on his waist. He betrayed our friendship when he turned on me to help my idiot cousin fight against me, and that was when it became clear to me that I couldn’t rely on Terry Roberts for anything whatsoever, not as a friend, and certainly not as an ally. So if you asked me who, other than Mr. FPV I would look to as even a temporary ally in this sort of match if need be, you can bet your ass it wouldn’t be Synn that I turned to. I promised I would set aside my hatred for the man, and as hard as it is to do, that’s what I’m trying to accomplish. I don’t want to go into this match targeting anyone in particular, but I can promise that if I get a chance to go after Synn or after pretty much anyone else in the entirety of the WAR match, I’m going to go after Synn, not because he’s a threat, but because my personal bias against that man has stretched further than I could’ve imagined in the span of a month, and I feel that, personally, if I can’t count on the man when I’m not facing him, I’ve got to look out for him when he is involved in the same match as me. So Synn, this is your warning, amigo. If you fuck with me, it’ll be the last act of your first WAR match.”
Hank Brown: “Well it certainly seems that you’re not exactly happy with Synn. Is there anyone else that you’re particularly concerned about facing when it comes to the WAR match?”
Roy Speede: “There’s nobody in particular that I’m really that concerned about facing. There are those that are in groups, and those that are fighting by themselves, and I think that it’s up to the fighter what he wants to do, or in a couple cases what she wants to do. But when it all comes down to it, there are just some people that this match was intended to show the abilities of, and some people that this match wasn’t intended to show the abilities of. After all, Adam Young is a part of this match, and in four years for him now, I think it is, he hasn’t done a thing in the WAR matches he’s been in, and he won’t do anything this year either. Then there’s Johnny Stylez and Tommy Kain. I’ve already expressed my distaste for these two, and after beating Johnny Stylez to retain my Hardcore Championship last week, I think my words stand firm when I say that Johnny Stylez is no threat to anyone’s chances of winning the WAR match except his own. Then there’s Kale Windsor, and as much of a supporter of the man as I’ve been over the last few months, I’m starting to lose hope in that man ever going anywhere with his career. Sure, he’s supposedly ‘The Rising Star’, but all I’ve seen is him plummeting further and further down the ladder. Bishop and Priest are going to be in the match, and these two are actually starting to make Adam Young look viable as a competitor. Chris Guy, a pompous ass with an attitude of arrogance and no talent to back it up will be making his debut in the WAR match, and that’s never a good thing. Then there’s joel Hall who, as far as I’m concerned, has been a jobber for way too long and needs a chance to break out of the mold he pretty much cast for himself as being a jobber in this company. WAR, however, isn’t his time to do it, and as much as I’d like to see a bunch of impressive performances for these guys, this isn’t the time for that.
But like I said as well, there are quite a few guys on the roster, too, who are actually pretty capable of accomplishing something in this match that I haven’t even mentioned yet. I’ll start with a man who almost won the WAR match last year, Odin Balfore. The ‘Bad Mother Fucker’ as he calls himself, tied the record for most eliminations in a single WAR match last year, and came in second after Johnny Reb pulled a victory out of the hat. Sure, he won the title back a month later, but one can’t be happy to have gotten that close to victory and fall short, especially with the almost record setting performance he gave in that ring. He’s got size to his advantage, but as I often express, size isn’t what makes a match winnable or losable; it’s how you use it, and Odin Balfore, as of late especially, hasn’t been using his size like he should know how to do, and it’s that kind of thing that makes me more than certain he’s not going to be the victor, not because he’s been losing a lot more than he’s been winning lately, but because he’s not using the talents that he’s got, and that in itself is a recipe for disaster; I know he doesn’t want to see it, but that’s what even the back of his own mind is saying, and as big and powerful as the man might be, he’s going to slip and fall, and when he does, someone else is going to capitalize on his mistakes.
Who might that person be? Well, some believe it’ll be ‘The Mack’, Steve Orbit. While I’ll give credit to the pimp by trade for the fact that he’s made himself quite a bit of money and gotten himself quite a bit of tail over the years, the WAR match just isn’t his cup of tea, or rather, isn’t the booze in his mixed drink, if you prefer a different metaphor. Sure, he’s the current United States Champion and holds a belt that I’ve had in my possession twice during my career, but the man has made many an enemy over the course of his career, and I feel like The Mack just isn’t going to have his head in the game simply because he’s got to deal with rivals like Odin, like Jeff Purse, like Logan Twilight and possibly like Jonny Fly. Whether that will truly be an accurate statement or not remains to be seen, and though I have some respect for the man, I can honestly say that I’m pulling out all the stops to win this one, and Steve Orbit doesn’t have enough of those ‘stops’ as they’re referred to in order to match up with the best in this match, and it’ll lead to him losing.
As well, you’ve got the transvestite fake redheaded imbecile, Logan, who has been parading around like a jackass and calling himself Sarah Twilight for the past couple months. Now, I’m not going to elaborate too much on how that’s a big change from making me tap out to the Loganshooter in last year’s WAR match, but I will say that, while it’s an inventive new way for him to be noticed, he’s not being noticed in the right ways, and if anything, it’s making him look more like a retard than a capable wrestler. And excuse me to any of the fans out there who might be physically or mentally handicapped; I didn’t mean that as a shot at any of you, and the sole purpose of that comment was accusing Logan of being something he’s not. That, in fact, is obviously what he’s trying to be with the wig and the new ring gear that honestly creeps me out a lot more than it should. I bet it creeps Steve Orbit out quite a bit more, considering Logan’s new obsession with The Mack and with trying to bed the United States Champion. It’s for that reason, among others, that I don’t envy Steve Orbit’s position right now, but to be honest, I’m more freaked out by the thought of being in Logan’s position than I am in Steve’s because, of course, I don’t think I could handle making myself look like an idiot with a ridiculous wig week in and week out and trying to say I’m a female when I’m obviously just a guy in drag. It’s pathetic.
Speaking of pathetic, Synn’s partner Doc Henry is a part of the WAR match this year, and while I don’t have to go into too much detail, I can easily outline the fact that I’ve never lost to Doc Henry in any format of wrestling competition, and as far as the WAR match goes, I don’t intend to start now. To tell the truth, Doc is one of those that I kind of feel almost belongs in the ‘I don’t even deserve to be in the WCF because I’m that sad of a competitor’ group of wrestlers, but because of his history with the company, I’ll throw him in as actual talent simply because of his veteran status and experience in the WAR match. While that experience may be a few eliminations, he hasn’t really achieved too much when it comes to WAR, and if he thinks he really has a chance at winning the WAR match, he’s going into this one blind as a bat. And when I say blind as a bat, I mean one that doesn’t have the sonar or the ears to help guide him either. So we’ll see how far Doc Henry actually makes it, but mark my words, he’s no threat to the possibility of victory for anyone in this match whatsoever.
Eric Price, the Television Champion, is a part of this match, and he’s someone that has risen from the ashes of what was a mediocre stable for the longest amount of time and has made a career for himself when I never thought it possible that anyone in that group would ever go on to see singles competition glory. I’m happy for the guy, but that doesn’t mean for a single second that I’m going to let him get the better of me at the WAR match, and after seeing what he’s been doing to manipulate Jeff Purse and get under his skin, he’s one of the ones I know I need to watch out for in this match, whether it be because I feel sorry for Kari for having to kiss him or because he’s the Television Champion and has had that belt for just shy of two months, almost as long as I’ve had the Hardcore Championship, has defended it successfully against all challengers, and yet still stands there as the longest reigning Television Champion since Nathan Von Liebert lost the belt back in May. So while I may have only had one match in my career against Eric, that ended up with my tag team getting the loss, I can’t say that I’m overly concerned with anything this man could possibly come up with in that ring.
Then, there’s the possibility of Waylon Cash being in this match. Now, until this past week on Slam, I actually gave the man some credit, what with being a former World Champion already, but he lost a match to Tek of all people and had to have his head shaved, and that is one of the reasons I can honestly say that I don’t believe in Waylon Cash’s ability to wrestle anymore. We’ll see what that means down the line, but for me, it really means that he doesn’t deserve to have a World Championship match this week at the WAR pay per view, and he doesn’t need to be a part of WAR to begin with; he simply has made himself look bad over this past month, and right now I don’t envy his position whatsoever. I mean, I’d rather be him than someone like Adam Young because at least I’d be getting a shot at the World Championship, but at the same time it makes me wonder if he’s past his prime or what, because as far as I can see, Waylon Cash is slipping from his former glory, and he can slide right back out the door as far as I’m concerned, because what it looks like to me is that Waylon Cash is trying to find himself with this one, and he just can’t do it.
Last, but certainly not least, on my list of people to discuss, is my own tag partner turned enemy turned tag partner again, Mr. FPV, Frank Patrick Venable, Franky V, Super FPV, whatever the heck you want to call him. For time’s sake, I’ll call him Franky, but right now I’m not going to question the fact that Franky has a chance to win the World Title for the second time in his career at the WAR pay per view, and that if he accomplishes that and I win the WAR, there’s a very real possibility that the most intense rivalry of my career to this point match wise is going to have one more ‘final battle’ at the pay per view of pay per views, One. I have a ton of respect for the man after all that he put me through in the ring and after all the shit he took from me when we fought our matches against one another, but for the love of all things holy I hope he wins that World Championship, because i’ve never seen Franky go halfway, and if he were to lose his Championship match, there’s no way he’d be able to win the WAR because he’d be completely exhausted. So while I hope that Franky wins the World Title, if he doesn’t, I’m not concerned about him being in my way in the WAR match because, when all is said and done, he won’t even be in it after fighting for the World Championship belt.”
Hank Brown: “That certainly is saying something, Roy. You’ve analyzed quite a few names from the list of people that are going to be competing. One of the surprise entries’ names has been released, as well, and I want to know, what are your thoughts on Jay Price returning for the WAR match tonight?”
Roy Speede: “Jay Price is returning for the WAR match? Are you freaking kidding me, Hank? The guy who wasn’t supposed to be back for another year is already returning to the ring? I know I saw him wrestle on the GEW show or whatever, but at the very least, he should have the sense not to go into the match of the year with the expectation that he could perform any better than miserable, not to reference the Mayday Parade song there if I can help it. Anyway, what does he think he’s doing, Hank? He’s walking into the Lion’s den wearing a thong made out of sirloin steak from the looks of it, Hank, because everyone’s going to be all over the man who’s making his big return this week, and even if people let it slide, I’m not stupid enough to let Jay Price get the better of me, not now, and not ever, and if he thinks he’s going to win the WAR match, he better think again, because this one’s my WAR to win, and I’m not letting anybody take that from me. So as far as him making a ‘surprise’ return to compete in the WAR match, best of luck to him on his return, but, and I’m saying these words directly to your face now, Price, stay the hell out of my way. This is MY match, and if you think for a second that your sappy little return party is going to upstage me, you’ve got a rude awakening coming for you, punk.”
Hank Brown: “Well, Roy, we’ve got to wrap this thing up. Is there anything else you’d like to say before I close us down?”
Roy Speede: “Of course I’ve got some final words, Hank. I know I run my mouth about as much as anyone in the entire company, but what it all boils down to is that I’ve earned that right, and I’ve gone just about as far as any one man has ever been willing to go to put on a show for the fans without any regard for winning or losing the match, and this time it’s all changing. WAR is my match to win, and with it lingering on my fingertips right now, Hank, it’s my match to lose, also, and that just isn’t going to happen. So while you can sit and talk about how there are so many in this match who’re capable wrestlers and who could very easily walk out of this match the victor, and how there are even these ‘dark horse’ competitors who could slip in under the radar and pick up a victory from the unknown, and how the odds of any one man winning the WAR match itself may seem very dark, very bleak, just remember this: every darkness has a Silver Lining, and in the WCF, there’s only one true Silver Lining, and that Silver Lining is me. I’m going to go through this WAR match and do what everybody expects any other man on the entire roster to do. I’m going to shine bright and show why I truly belong in the main event, because I’m Roy Speede, and that’s just what I do. And that is the Silver Lining in all this, Hank.”
Hank Brown: “There you have it, folks, a Silver Lining shining through in dark times! That’s all the time we have for right now. I’m Hank Brown, wishing everyone an enjoyable show.”
Roy hands Hank back the microphone.
Roy Speede: “Thanks for the interview, Hank. But I’ve got to get going so I can be ready for the WAR match. I’ll catch you next time.”
He smirks and turns to walk away.
Hank Brown: “Good luck out there, Roy Boy!”
Roy Speede: “Hank, you don’t need luck when you’ve got just a little Silver Lining to shine through in the end.”
The scene fades to black as Roy Speede continues to walk away.
There have to be those that never accomplish their goals in every way of life, and wrestling is no exception. Sure, everyone in the WCF has made it to the elite company, but there are those within the WCF that just are not going to go anywhere as far as success is concerned. One could use whatever term he or she wants to describe those people, but simply put, they are commonly known as jobbers. Whether one can move past the level of ‘jobber’ and actually become a competitor of worth to the company depends on one’s determination and dedication to the company, but more than that it depends on wrestling ability and pure talent. There are those that have it, and there are those that simply don’t, and in the WAR match, those two wrestling stereotypes of people are blended together in one melting pot of a match so spectacular that the casual wrestling observer watching the WAR match for the first time would run the risk of his or her brain exploding from the impressive nature of the fight. And yet, somehow the match wouldn’t be quite as spectacular without the less talented wrestlers in the match, because not only would there be less competitors, but it would make some of those with actual wrestling ability look like jobbers for the sake of the match actually being pulled off successfully. Putting on a match like the WAR with only five competitors wouldn’t make it a WAR match, now would it?
The answer to that question is a stern but serious ‘No!’ One could obviously see who in the WAR match is going to be successful and who isn’t just by first glance, but whether or not that’s actually a good thing depends on the competitor, and in the WAR match, not showing one’s true potential is all but the death of a career. That’s one of the things that makes the WAR match one of the most important and most difficult to win matches of the entire year, no matter who the competitors in the match are. One of those things, of course, other than the guaranteed World Title shot and the marking down of one’s name in the record books as a WAR winner, any of which would be something that could give any wrestler’s career a big jump forward; granted, one would need to cash in his or her World Title shot and actually win the belt, or it would be a waste because winning the shot simply isn’t enough under most circumstances, but winning the WAR match in the first place is one of the most impressive feats any WCF wrestler can accomplish. They were the ones who broke free from the pack and showed that they truly belonged in the main events of pay per views, and they are the ones we all try to emulate every year when we go into the WAR match looking to walk out the victor.
That brings me to another point- past WAR winners are the ones that pave the way for a new opportunity and a new winner to arise and claim victory as his or her own. Some of the greatest wrestlers in the history of our beloved company went on to win WAR matches; people like Slickie T, Johnny Reb, Gravedigger, Skyler Striker, and Logan, three times in fact, are the kinds of guys we look up to and try to measure up to when we make our way down that ramp at WAR and enter the ring. Sure, we have two of those names competing again this year, even if one of them has gone through surgery to change genders and gotten a wig, but they’re the ones that we all try to outshine when we fight in the WAR match, and even so much as eliminating them becomes a significant feat, although nothing compared to the true glory that is winning the match itself. There are those that say that they have what it takes to win the WAR match, and there are those that say that everyone else doesn’t have what it takes to win the WAR match, and that brings me back to a point that I made earlier this week. Just because someone has the courage to sit behind a computer and talk smack, or shoot a video alongside his or her friends, doesn’t mean they have what it takes once that bell rings and they get into the squared circle in an attempt to fight, and in reality, most of them don’t have what it takes.
So while I may sound like a hypocrite, I don’t promise victory; I merely promise the lack of fear and the heart to do my very best in that match and hope that it’s enough to walk away with the victory. So while I post blog posts and shoot promotional videos for my matches, I stand by my words when I say that just because I have confidence and think I’m going to win, there’s no guarantee... This time, however, I’m going to change that. This time, I’m going to go for the gold and I have the full intention of walking out of the WAR match the victor. But words don’t mean a thing without the actions to back it up, and in order for me to be at my best, I need to train, so citizens of Speede Nation, this is where I sign out and leave you to your lives, and when WAR comes, this one’s for each and every one of my fans. This is The Silver Lining, signing off.
~Roy Speede
Nolan Walker and Tony Tate are in the gym having a wrestling match when the door opens and in walks Roy Speede, bags under his eyes from tiredness and a bandage over his right eye. Tony and Nolan stop what they’re doing as the door swings shut and look over at him. Tony shakes his head and leans over the top rope, looking out at Roy with a disappointed look on his face.
Tony Tate: “You’re late, Speedo. And two days before your match, too. Any reasoning behind this, or are you just late for the heck of it?”
Roy Speede: “Yeah, Tony, I have a reason for it. I didn’t sleep at all last night. That moment last month at the Revenge pay per view kept playing in my head, over and over and over, and it was driving me nuts. I mean, my own cousin stabbed me in the back after everything I did for him, and I just-“
Nolan cuts him off.
Nolan Walker: “Whatever it is, Roy, don’t ya worry about a thing! Ya just need ta focus on yer training and getting ready fer the big match this Sunday. After all, ya only got two days ta prepare yerself.”
Roy Speede: “You probably are about right with that one, Nolan, but I’m not overly worried.”
Tony Tate: “If you’re not worried about the outcome of the match, why have you come to the gym for eight hours a day each of the last three days?”
Roy Speede: “I’ve got to stay in shape, Tate. If I don’t stay in top physical form, I would actually have something to worry about.”
Nolan Walker: “He’s got a point there, Tony. Ya don’t get ta where he is by slacking off and lazing around all day.”
Tony Tate: “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Nolan, take a break. I’m going to focus on training Speedo one on one this time.”
Nolan Walker: “Actually, Tony, if ya don’t mind, I’m gonna leave a bit early. I know I said I was gonna stay till noon, but I want ta get a shower before lunch. I’m going ta get a bite ta eat with an old friend of mine and catch up. We haven’t talked in a year or so now and getting a chance ta talk ta her without everyone breathing down my neck would be good, ah?”
Tony Tate: “Yeah, you do that, Walker. I don’t care. Two days left, and I gotta focus on the top prospect right now.”
Nolan nods his head and slides out of the ring as Roy slides into the ring and hits the ropes, running back and forth. He stops after a couple of laps and starts stretching his arms, and then his legs. Nolan smirks as he goes to the back room, and Tony watches Roy.
Tony Tate: “I’ve taught you well it looks like, Roy. I’m going to go grab a couple bottles of water, and then we’ll get started.”
Tate steps through the ropes and drops down from the ring apron before turning toward the back of the building. Nolan comes walking out at this point in a pair of jeans and a tee shirt, and nods his head.
Nolan Walker: “So, Roy, while yer waiting, tell me, what’s Abbie been up ta lately? We’re going ta catch up and I wanna know what ta expect.”
Roy Speede: “You’re going on a date with my girlfriend?!”
Nolan Walker: “No, Roy, we’re just hanging out cause we’re friends! I wouldn’t do that ta ya, especially after what happened with Alex.”
Roy Speede: “Well... Alright, bro. But I want you guys to come back by here afterwards. I want to talk to her in person.”
Nolan Walker: “What, don’t ya trust me, Roy? I’m not gonna do anthing I shouldn’t be with her. I just want ta catch up with her since I haven’t spoken ta her since when we were a team back some eighteen months ago.”
Roy Speede: “I trust you, Nolan. I just want to talk to her, you know, ask her to come down to the ring to celebrate with me when I win the WAR match, since I’ve got a little surprise for her that she can show off, since I’ve got my Hardcore Championship, and in three months I’ll have the World Title.”
Nolan Walker: “Yer gonna ask her ta marry ya, ah?”
Roy Speede: “I want to, man. I mean, she’s been there for me watching my back every step of the way, and I love her more than anything, man. She knows my passion for wrestling almost as good as I do, and she understands the risks I take by going out there every week and fighting. She knows how dedicated I am to the company and how hard I’ll fight to accomplish my goals in the company, and yet she still supports me even knowing the risks I take. If that’s not a show of love, I don’t know what is, man...”
Nolan Walker: “I see what ya mean, Roy. And I understand why yer so worried about me and yer girl hanging out together. Tell ya what, though. I’ll see if I can’t convince her ta get takeout and bring the food back here so we can eat together here and ya can keep an eye on us, and maybe I’ll even bring ya something if ya ask me.”
Roy Speede: “Where are you going for lunch?”
Nolan Walker: “Originally we were gonna go ta Olive Garden, but I think we might end up picking something different if we’re only gonna be getting takeout, ah!”
Roy Speede: “Alright, that sounds fine... Hey, you know what’s taking Tate so long?”
Nolan Walker: Yeah, Roy. I think Tate said he had ta expel the hamster.”
Roy Speede: “What?”
Nolan Walker: “He’s taking a shit.”
Roy Speede:” Lovely...”
Nolan Walker: “Isn’t it just? Well anyway, I’m gonna go, Roy. Talk ta ya in a while!”
Nolan pushes open the front door to the gym and walks out, and Roy sighs as he waits for Tate. After about five minutes, Tate comes back with two water bottles, one in each hand, and tosses one to Roy in the ring as he climbs the steps up onto the apron.
Roy Speede: “Finally! My hair was turning white again, and I mean in a manner other than how I used to dye it.”
Tony Tate: “Keep your socks on, Speedo. I had to take a crap so I didn’t end up shitting my pants in the ring.”
Roy Speede: “That’s a good point. I wouldn’t want that to happen, and I imagine none of your other students would either. Did you wash your hands at least?”
Tony Tate: “Of course. I always do. Now let’s go! Set the water bottle down, and let’s get this practice started.”
Roy Speede: “Sure thing. And by the way, Nolan and Abbie are bringing their lunch back here instead of eating at the restaurant. Want anything from Olive Garden?”
Tony Tate: “No, Roy. I’m fine. Let’s just get this started. I want to make sure you get all the practice you need before Sunday.”
Roy Speede: “Okay, suit yourself.”
The two lock up, collar and elbow, and the shot cuts to Abbie and Nolan in the passenger’s seat and driver’s seat of a larger SUV type vehicle, perhaps a Chevrolet Tahoe. Abbie has a big bag with the Olive Garden logo on the side of it sitting on her lap, and Nolan is focusing on the road. Abbie’s hair is dyed a vibrant red, something different from her usual dark hair color.
Abbie Grande: “So did you already hit the gym today to help train with Roy, or is this your first ride over there today?”
Nolan Walker: “I’ve already been there once, but I left early so I could be on time ta pick ya up, Abbie and we didn’t get ta train together at all yet. But rather then worry about him, tell me, what have ya been up ta the last however long it’s been since I’ve talked ta ya? The whole idea was ta catch up on old times, ah?”
Abbie Grande: “Well, you know before I got into managing Roy I was studying law, and during recent times I’ve actually been an on again off again police officer down in Richmond. It’s kind of exciting, and I’m glad I can keep the city safe, but I’m much happier up here with Roy. Know what I mean?”
Nolan Walker: “I know exactly what ya mean, hun. Being with the one ya love is an amazing feeling, and I have a girl back in Ireland that I was hoping would come with me ta the States. She just didn’t make it.”
Abbie Grande: “What’s she’s like?”
Nolan Walker: “She’s incredible. She’s smart, charming, and beautiful, and I really do love getting ta spend time with her. I made her promise me that she’d come to the States with me by the end of next month if I don’t go back right away or that next trip out here she’d join me. I hope that isn’t too big of a problem with Roy or Tate, ah?”
Abbie Grande: “Oh, not a bit. I know Roy, and he’ll be happy for you, hearing that you’ve got yourself a girlfriend and all. After all, you hit the nail on the head; there’s nothing like spending time with the person you love.”
Nolan Walker: I’m not so worried about Roy. I’m worried about what Tony is going ta think about it since he’s always straight ta the point about focusing and training.”
Abbie Grande: “Well, if you say she is, I bet so.”
Nolan Walker: “She really is, but if I’m going ta be really honest with ya, she wasn’t my first attraction. If Roy hadn’t found ya first I’d have asked ya out myself, Abbie.”
Abbie’s face turns slightly red.
Abbie Grande: “Nolan, don’t say that! Your girlfriend is the one you should show interest in, not me!”
Nolan Walker: I know, I know, but I never even got ta kiss ya or anything before Roy found ya, and I’m starting to wonder if I ever will get ta do it.”
Abbie Grande: “Nolan, that’s sweet, but I’m with Roy, and I don’t think that’s going to change. And even if it did, I like you as a friend, but not like that.”
Nolan Walker: “Good, Abbie. Ya passed my test. I was making sure Roy made the right choice with ya. Hope ya don’ t mind the teasing though. I always knew ya were the right girl for him.”
Abbie feigns a laugh.
Abbie Grande: “No, no, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
The vehicle pulls into the parking lot of the gym and the two get out, Abbie a bit slower than Nolan because of the bag of food.
Nolan Walker: “Here, Abbie, let me carry that for ya.”
Abbie hands off the bag of food to Nolan, and he starts walking toward the gym. Abbie sighs, shaking her head, and mumbles under her breath.
Abbie Grande: “Now I remember why I stopped talking to this moron.”
Nolan looks over her shoulder.
Nolan Walker: “Did ya say something Abbie?”
Abbie Grande: “Oh, no, I’m alright. I said I can’t wait to see Roy though, and I hope he has his game face on.”
Nolan Walker: “Oh, okay. That’s fine then.”
Nolan opens the door to the gym and Abbie walks in first, followed closely behind by the Irishman. He takes the food over to the table and sets the bag down, and then looks over at the ring as Roy and Tony break up their fighting and slide out of the ring almost simultaneously, walking toward the table. Roy collects a handful of hand sanitizer from the dispenser on the wall, and Tony does the same.
Nolan Walker: “Alright, both of ya, I’ve got food for ya. I know ya said ya didn’t want anything, Tony, but ya need ta keep up yer strength with all this working out, and I figured I could at least get ya something.”
Tony Tate: “Oh, no, that’s a good thing. I’m glad you did, actually. I’m starting to get hungry.”
Roy Speede: “Thanks for bringing all this, guys. Abbie, boy am I glad to see you! And you dyed your hair! I love it!”
Abbie Grande: “You’re happy to see me? Any reason, or do you just like seeing a female when you’re in the ring on occasion?”
Roy Speede: “Well, it’s you that I like seeing in my corner when I’m in the ring, but mainly it’s because of... um... Well, I haven’t talked to you yet today, and that’s unusual, so seeing your smiling face is a relaxing breather.”
Abbie Grande: “Of course, Roy. I like being able to spend time with you. Oh, and thank you for that compliment of my hair. I knew you liked redheads and I thought I’d give it a try.”
Roy Speede: “You look amazing, Abbie. I mean, you always look amazing, but this red hair thing brings a whole new aspect to your appearance. Like really, just, um... wow.”
Nolan Walker: “Shut up and eat, lover boy. I don’t want ta have ta come over there and shut ya up myself.”
Roy sighs, shakes his head, and then picks up one of the boxes of food, one that holds inside a big box of lasagna. Abbie grabs another box, and then Tony takes a bowl of soup as Nolan sighs.
Nolan Walker: “Don’t tell me all yer planning ta have is the soup, Tony.”
Tony Tate: “It’s not, Nolan. Don’t worry. I’m just starting with the soup because soup is a standard appetizer is all.”
Nolan Walker: “Oh, okay. That’s fine then. I just don’t want ya ta go hungry.”
Tony nods his head. As the four sit down to eat, the camera cuts to Roy’s locker room. Roy is sitting on the couch in a pair of jeans and a Hollywood Undead tee shirt watching one of the promotional videos released by Steeltoe Joe for the WAR match. There is a knock at the door, and Roy gets up, going to the door, and opens it. Nolan Walker is standing outside.
Nolan Walker: “Hey Roy, what are ya doing in here man? The WAR match is tomorrow and this isn’t exactly what I’d call training.”
Roy Speede: “I’m watching some of the other competitors’ promotional videos to see what they have to say about the match. I don’t want to go ‘uninformed’ on who else is confident they’ll win the match, you know?”
Nolan Walker: “Quit yer sarcasm, Roy, and let me in. Abbie isn’t here right now, is she?”
Roy steps to one side and lets Nolan come into the room, closing the door behind him.
Roy Speede: “No, why?”
Nolan Walker: “What the heck happened, man? I thought ya were gonna ask Abbie ta come down ta the ring after yer WAR match so ya could propose to her.”
Roy Speede: “I guess I kinda got cold feet. Asking a woman to marry you takes the right moment, Nolan, and even setting up that right moment isn’t exactly the easiest task in the world when it all relies on you to begin with, you know? I mean, if it were something a bit less dependent on me, it’d be a lot less nerve wracking than it is because I’d know what the hell I was doing.”
Nolan Walker: “Calm down, Roy. There’s no pressure on ya ta ask her ta marry ya at WAR. If ya don’t do it now, ya can do it when ya win the World Title at One, and it’d be an even more special event. Hell, ya could walk out of there a double champ and that way ya could each have a belt on yer shoulders, and it’d be that much more entertaining!”
Roy Speede: “Asking her to marry me isn’t about entertainment, Nolan. I mean, everything else about my wrestling career has been for the fans, but popping the question to Abbie is going to be about her and about the two of us, whether the fans are a part of it or not, and whether they’re entertained by it or not. And excuse me if that sounds mean, but it’s the truth, and it’s what I’m going to stick to when I ask her the question.”
Nolan Walker: “So if yer not gonna do it tomorrow night after yer WAR win, when are ya gonna do it?”
Roy Speede: “That’s a good question, bro, but then that raises another question. What if I ask her to meet me at ringside and I don’t win the WAR?”
Nolan Walker: “Then yer still gonna have ta find another time ta ask her, but the last thing ya want ta do is not try.”
Roy Speede: “Believe me, Nolan. I’m going to be trying like crazy to win this match. And as far as asking Abbie goes, I’ll do it when the time feels right.”
Nolan Walker: “Ya already got yer diamond picked out ta give her then?”
Roy Speede: “Absolutely! I’m not going to be dumb enough to ask a woman to marry me without an engagement ring. That’s like asking a pro tennis player for tips on how to play baseball; it just doesn’t work.”
Nolan Walker; “If ya want ta talk about what doesn’t work, try mentioning all of the hundreds of thousands of people that don’t have jobs thanks ta the crappy job the last couple presidents have done.”
Roy Speede: “I hear that man... Well hey, I’m going to get back to listening to these interviews, and maybe study some film from previous WAR matches if you don’t mind?”
Nolan Walker: “Not a bit, Roy. I’ve gotta call my girlfriend back in Ireland anyway.”
Roy Speede: “You’ve got a girlfriend now?”
Nolan Walker: “Ya’re damn right I do. I want her ta come ta the states too so I can introduce her ta ya.”
Roy Speede: “That’s nice, bro, but can we do that some other time?”
Nolan Walker: “Sure thing, bro. Good luck in yer match man, and keep in touch. I’ll talk ta ya later!”
Nolan opens the door and steps out of Roy’s locker room. Roy returns to the couch and changes the DVDs, popping in a disk showing WAR IX. The scene cuts to the day of WAR, and Roy Speede is standing by with Hank Brown. Each of them has a microphone, and they’re in the interview area.
Hank Brown: “Well, Roy, are you ready for this?”
Roy Speede: “I’m always ready.”
Hank Brown: “Alright. Just thought I’d ask to make sure, but here we go... Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! I’m Hank Brown, and at this time I have with me none other than the WCF’s Hardcore Champion and The Silver Lining of professional wrestling, Roy Speede! Now Roy, I interviewed you several days ago, and at that point you had quite a lot you wanted to get off your chest. Anything you’d like to say in general before I get started on the questions?”
Roy Speede: “I’ve got quite a lot I’d like to say, Hank, but the question remains how much of that I’ll actually decided I need to say. Simply put, Hank, a lot of my thoughts lately haven’t been exactly what we’d call television legal, and since I figure this thing is going to be airing, there are a lot of things that I would probably be better off not saying. But I will go into detail and say that this week has been one of the most interesting weeks of my life if nothing else, and that I’m proud to be here as a competitor in the WAR match, and anyone who gets in my way come my entry into the match better look out, because when Roy Speede sets foot in that ring, I’m not looking back for anyone nor anything. Sure I’ll be watching my back, but I mean more of a figurative sense; WAR is going to be a step up for me, beyond what I’m used to, and beyond what everyone else is used to, and if thirty or more opponents want to get in my way and try to stop me, I’ll thoroughly enjoy taking each and every one of them down one by one, two by two, three by three, whatever I have to do to show that I’m not the fluke of a Hardcore Champion everyone thinks I am. I deserve the belt I’ve got, and I stand firm in the belief that it’s just a matter of time until I get my shot at the World Championship; if anything, WAR is actually a stepping stone on the road to the World Title, and I’m going to be putting one foot in front of the other until I run out of pavement to follow. And even then, I’m going to take the dirt path and see just how far up the ladder of success it’ll lead me.
No, no, in all seriousness, and when I say seriousness I mean with some comic relief because we all know that nobody ever succeeded in anything by being a boring old prick and staring off into space like a moron, I’m setting aside all of my hate-filled rivalries with the goal in mind of obtaining the World Championship. The odds are against me, but they’ve always been against me, so why should this time be any different? I’m going to do what I always do and that’s come out on top, anyway, so why shouldn’t I focus on what really matters in the WAR match? Granted, the WAR match is a chance for me to take a shot at each and every one of my enemies in this company, but that’s not what my main focus is in the least; I don’t care if I wind up nose to nose with Brad Kane himself in the WAR match, I’m setting aside anger and hatred and going on to be crowned as the winner of WAR XI. That means that all my enemies don’t have a target on their backs in my eyes specifically, but that everyone in the match has a target on his or her back because, when it all comes down to it, I’m not going to target any one person over any other; I’m going to make sure I win this one because, when I say that not everyone can have his or her way when it comes to always winning, I mean that anyone who gets in my way is going to be disappointed, and probably hurting quite a bit too. Sure, there are quite a few people in this match who I haven’t had a problem with and who don’t have a problem with me, but they’ll be targets just the same because this WAR match is the one match of the year that features everyone on the roster, and I’m going to go after everyone on the roster because I can and because that’s what I have to do if I’m going to win.
Or rather, that’s what some people anticipate that I would have to do in order to win. I said it when you interviewed me a few days ago, Hank, and I’ll say it again; Picking one’s spots is a necessary and proper way to win the match, and going into it with blind fury and hoping for the best is sure to lead to defeat. So while I may have some hatred and rage and fury building inside me, I’m saving that for when it’s one other guy and me left in the ring, because by that point I’ll get my chance to kick some asses and take some names, whether they’re ones that particularly matter to me or not. I’ve got more of an opportunity in this match than I’ve ever had before, Hank, and I’m not going to screw up my chances of coming out of the WAR match the victor like I did last year by running into the middle of a circle jerk in the ring and expecting that I could knock down seven guys at once. It was what lead to my downfall, and this year I don’t intend to do something like that; no, I actually expect to go into this match an underdog and walk out more of one of those ‘HOLY SHIT! I DON’T BELIEVE IT!’ kind of victors, you know, the kind that always seem to be pulling surprises out of their asses when nobody in the entire universe thinks they’ve got anything left? I’m talking about guys like Johnny Reb, who not only won last year’s WAR match, but has won the World Title three times, and always seems to shock the world by doing so. That’s the kind of victor I’m going to be, and this year is my time to show just that.”
Hank Brown: “Right, Roy. Now, before I go any further, I want to readdress the issue of stable wars. There are quite a few groups in this match, and I want to know, other than Genesis, which group do you think has the best chance of winning this thing and has the best chance of teaming up and working together cohesively in a match where every man fights for himself?”
Roy Speede: “Well, Hank, this answer might surprise you, but I honestly think that Prophecy has a good chance of working effectively together in what would otherwise be mass chaos. Hank Lane has been looking to show that he’s still got it after returning a while back, and the former tag champs are out to show that their title victory and reign, no matter how short it may have been, wasn’t a fluke. I’ll give credit to Tek and to Steeltoe Joe; I’ve seen some in-ring ability I haven’t seen out of them before in recent weeks, and they’ve got a lot of untapped potential that I think could explode in the WAR match, and that could be a bad thing for anyone and everyone in this one. Now, while I don’t think it’ll necessarily lead to a victory, and while I don’t feel that any of them are truly ready for the main event scene yet, this could establish them as a legitimate stable in the WCF if they put on a good showing, and while there are a couple of main groups in the WCF, Prophecy could be one of those dark horse teams that spoil a few people’s dreams in the WAR match here tonight. I’m not making any promises on that one, but those three men all have potential, and I think that if they get the chance to work together they’ll use it and they’ll go pretty far in this one if they find themselves able to team up and work as a unit.”
Hank Brown: “I get what you’re saying, Roy, but you have to admit, Pantheon has become a completely dominating stable over the past few months here in the WCF. What are your concerns about dealing with these guys?”
Roy Speede: “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, the problem with Pantheon in a match like this is that they’re too stacked with power and with blind arrogance from their members to be of any real threat to people except one on one. Take for instance Corey Black; the man talks a big game, and takes pride in having five World Title reigns. One thing that has eluded him over his career, however, has been a WAR victory, and I think that if it means betraying his teammates to get so much as a chance at the victory, the man who was once known as Creeping Death won’t hesitate for a minute to do so. I doubt any of them would, really, but Black has the most to add to his resume by winning the WAR match, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went solo for the duration of this thing in an attempt to do just that. However, let’s not forget the fact that they could even add a fifth member to their already star studded WAR lineup if Jonny Fly doesn’t retain the World Championship earlier in the night. If you ask me, no group of five will be able to coexist in one match in a free for all atmosphere like in the WAR match. So while most people would fear Pantheon and what they can do if they put together their talent and form as a group, I find myself only thinking mentally about the strengths and weaknesses of each member, and wondering how each one will fare without help. I think each of them could have a shot at winning it if they picked their spots properly, but in reality, when Jeff Purse or Johnny Reb are fighting against one another, or when Polar Phantasm and Corey Black end up the last two and go toe to toe for a good hour after everyone else is done, it will lead to the destruction of Pantheon in its entirety; I say that they need to put the group aside and focus on winning it individually, no regrets and no hurt feelings over one of them eliminating another.”
Hank Brown: “Understandable. Now what about the Church of Dark Saints? I know you said earlier on that you didn’t think they were worth your time to talk about. Did you want to stand firm on that statement as well?”
Roy Speede: “I still say they aren’t worth mentioning, but since you brought them up, I’ll at least explain why. First, there’s Famine of the Vile. His claim to fame is getting suspended from the company for a month after his debut match because he was on some sort of drugs or something. I don’t remember what exactly, because honestly I don’t care in the least. But what does matter is that this sorry excuse for a man is one of those whipping boys that could have an easier life if he were to stop wrestling and become, oh, say a tattoo artist? He certainly has the appearance of a lazy moron, and from what I’ve seen, his brain is to match. And speaking of lazy morons, that leads me straight to Nathan Von Liebert. Sure, he’s a former Television Champion, but in this day and age there are quite a few former TV Champs walking around. Hell, half of Pantheon are former Television Champions, and they’ve gone on to much bigger and better things than being a lapdog for a masked wrestler past his prime like Von Liebert has by aligning himself with Oblivion. Speaking of the gracious leader, why am I expected to believe he’ll win the WAR match, if you don’t mind my asking? I mean, the man is an okay wrestler, but he hasn’t done anything to show anyone that he can get it done when it matters, and I say that in terms of, especially not in the last year and a half. The last thing the man did right was beat Gravedigger for MY Hardcore Championship just shy of six months ago, and then he lost the belt three weeks later to Gein Spector of all people. Who the hell is Gein Spector? History, and that’s all. If Oblivion can’t even beat Gein Spector, how am I to believe he’s going to win the WAR match? I’m not. I’m not inclined to believe that any member of the Church of Dark Saints can win the WAR match.
And that includes the fourth member of the group that will be fighting in the WAR match, Synn, or as I’ve grown to know him, Terry Jakob Martin Russel-Roberts. Yes, that’s right. I used his full name, and if there’s any problem with that, he can come find me and tell me about it, because as far as I’m concerned, Terry is nothing more than a former ally turned enemy and a target with a Tag Team Championship belt on his waist. He betrayed our friendship when he turned on me to help my idiot cousin fight against me, and that was when it became clear to me that I couldn’t rely on Terry Roberts for anything whatsoever, not as a friend, and certainly not as an ally. So if you asked me who, other than Mr. FPV I would look to as even a temporary ally in this sort of match if need be, you can bet your ass it wouldn’t be Synn that I turned to. I promised I would set aside my hatred for the man, and as hard as it is to do, that’s what I’m trying to accomplish. I don’t want to go into this match targeting anyone in particular, but I can promise that if I get a chance to go after Synn or after pretty much anyone else in the entirety of the WAR match, I’m going to go after Synn, not because he’s a threat, but because my personal bias against that man has stretched further than I could’ve imagined in the span of a month, and I feel that, personally, if I can’t count on the man when I’m not facing him, I’ve got to look out for him when he is involved in the same match as me. So Synn, this is your warning, amigo. If you fuck with me, it’ll be the last act of your first WAR match.”
Hank Brown: “Well it certainly seems that you’re not exactly happy with Synn. Is there anyone else that you’re particularly concerned about facing when it comes to the WAR match?”
Roy Speede: “There’s nobody in particular that I’m really that concerned about facing. There are those that are in groups, and those that are fighting by themselves, and I think that it’s up to the fighter what he wants to do, or in a couple cases what she wants to do. But when it all comes down to it, there are just some people that this match was intended to show the abilities of, and some people that this match wasn’t intended to show the abilities of. After all, Adam Young is a part of this match, and in four years for him now, I think it is, he hasn’t done a thing in the WAR matches he’s been in, and he won’t do anything this year either. Then there’s Johnny Stylez and Tommy Kain. I’ve already expressed my distaste for these two, and after beating Johnny Stylez to retain my Hardcore Championship last week, I think my words stand firm when I say that Johnny Stylez is no threat to anyone’s chances of winning the WAR match except his own. Then there’s Kale Windsor, and as much of a supporter of the man as I’ve been over the last few months, I’m starting to lose hope in that man ever going anywhere with his career. Sure, he’s supposedly ‘The Rising Star’, but all I’ve seen is him plummeting further and further down the ladder. Bishop and Priest are going to be in the match, and these two are actually starting to make Adam Young look viable as a competitor. Chris Guy, a pompous ass with an attitude of arrogance and no talent to back it up will be making his debut in the WAR match, and that’s never a good thing. Then there’s joel Hall who, as far as I’m concerned, has been a jobber for way too long and needs a chance to break out of the mold he pretty much cast for himself as being a jobber in this company. WAR, however, isn’t his time to do it, and as much as I’d like to see a bunch of impressive performances for these guys, this isn’t the time for that.
But like I said as well, there are quite a few guys on the roster, too, who are actually pretty capable of accomplishing something in this match that I haven’t even mentioned yet. I’ll start with a man who almost won the WAR match last year, Odin Balfore. The ‘Bad Mother Fucker’ as he calls himself, tied the record for most eliminations in a single WAR match last year, and came in second after Johnny Reb pulled a victory out of the hat. Sure, he won the title back a month later, but one can’t be happy to have gotten that close to victory and fall short, especially with the almost record setting performance he gave in that ring. He’s got size to his advantage, but as I often express, size isn’t what makes a match winnable or losable; it’s how you use it, and Odin Balfore, as of late especially, hasn’t been using his size like he should know how to do, and it’s that kind of thing that makes me more than certain he’s not going to be the victor, not because he’s been losing a lot more than he’s been winning lately, but because he’s not using the talents that he’s got, and that in itself is a recipe for disaster; I know he doesn’t want to see it, but that’s what even the back of his own mind is saying, and as big and powerful as the man might be, he’s going to slip and fall, and when he does, someone else is going to capitalize on his mistakes.
Who might that person be? Well, some believe it’ll be ‘The Mack’, Steve Orbit. While I’ll give credit to the pimp by trade for the fact that he’s made himself quite a bit of money and gotten himself quite a bit of tail over the years, the WAR match just isn’t his cup of tea, or rather, isn’t the booze in his mixed drink, if you prefer a different metaphor. Sure, he’s the current United States Champion and holds a belt that I’ve had in my possession twice during my career, but the man has made many an enemy over the course of his career, and I feel like The Mack just isn’t going to have his head in the game simply because he’s got to deal with rivals like Odin, like Jeff Purse, like Logan Twilight and possibly like Jonny Fly. Whether that will truly be an accurate statement or not remains to be seen, and though I have some respect for the man, I can honestly say that I’m pulling out all the stops to win this one, and Steve Orbit doesn’t have enough of those ‘stops’ as they’re referred to in order to match up with the best in this match, and it’ll lead to him losing.
As well, you’ve got the transvestite fake redheaded imbecile, Logan, who has been parading around like a jackass and calling himself Sarah Twilight for the past couple months. Now, I’m not going to elaborate too much on how that’s a big change from making me tap out to the Loganshooter in last year’s WAR match, but I will say that, while it’s an inventive new way for him to be noticed, he’s not being noticed in the right ways, and if anything, it’s making him look more like a retard than a capable wrestler. And excuse me to any of the fans out there who might be physically or mentally handicapped; I didn’t mean that as a shot at any of you, and the sole purpose of that comment was accusing Logan of being something he’s not. That, in fact, is obviously what he’s trying to be with the wig and the new ring gear that honestly creeps me out a lot more than it should. I bet it creeps Steve Orbit out quite a bit more, considering Logan’s new obsession with The Mack and with trying to bed the United States Champion. It’s for that reason, among others, that I don’t envy Steve Orbit’s position right now, but to be honest, I’m more freaked out by the thought of being in Logan’s position than I am in Steve’s because, of course, I don’t think I could handle making myself look like an idiot with a ridiculous wig week in and week out and trying to say I’m a female when I’m obviously just a guy in drag. It’s pathetic.
Speaking of pathetic, Synn’s partner Doc Henry is a part of the WAR match this year, and while I don’t have to go into too much detail, I can easily outline the fact that I’ve never lost to Doc Henry in any format of wrestling competition, and as far as the WAR match goes, I don’t intend to start now. To tell the truth, Doc is one of those that I kind of feel almost belongs in the ‘I don’t even deserve to be in the WCF because I’m that sad of a competitor’ group of wrestlers, but because of his history with the company, I’ll throw him in as actual talent simply because of his veteran status and experience in the WAR match. While that experience may be a few eliminations, he hasn’t really achieved too much when it comes to WAR, and if he thinks he really has a chance at winning the WAR match, he’s going into this one blind as a bat. And when I say blind as a bat, I mean one that doesn’t have the sonar or the ears to help guide him either. So we’ll see how far Doc Henry actually makes it, but mark my words, he’s no threat to the possibility of victory for anyone in this match whatsoever.
Eric Price, the Television Champion, is a part of this match, and he’s someone that has risen from the ashes of what was a mediocre stable for the longest amount of time and has made a career for himself when I never thought it possible that anyone in that group would ever go on to see singles competition glory. I’m happy for the guy, but that doesn’t mean for a single second that I’m going to let him get the better of me at the WAR match, and after seeing what he’s been doing to manipulate Jeff Purse and get under his skin, he’s one of the ones I know I need to watch out for in this match, whether it be because I feel sorry for Kari for having to kiss him or because he’s the Television Champion and has had that belt for just shy of two months, almost as long as I’ve had the Hardcore Championship, has defended it successfully against all challengers, and yet still stands there as the longest reigning Television Champion since Nathan Von Liebert lost the belt back in May. So while I may have only had one match in my career against Eric, that ended up with my tag team getting the loss, I can’t say that I’m overly concerned with anything this man could possibly come up with in that ring.
Then, there’s the possibility of Waylon Cash being in this match. Now, until this past week on Slam, I actually gave the man some credit, what with being a former World Champion already, but he lost a match to Tek of all people and had to have his head shaved, and that is one of the reasons I can honestly say that I don’t believe in Waylon Cash’s ability to wrestle anymore. We’ll see what that means down the line, but for me, it really means that he doesn’t deserve to have a World Championship match this week at the WAR pay per view, and he doesn’t need to be a part of WAR to begin with; he simply has made himself look bad over this past month, and right now I don’t envy his position whatsoever. I mean, I’d rather be him than someone like Adam Young because at least I’d be getting a shot at the World Championship, but at the same time it makes me wonder if he’s past his prime or what, because as far as I can see, Waylon Cash is slipping from his former glory, and he can slide right back out the door as far as I’m concerned, because what it looks like to me is that Waylon Cash is trying to find himself with this one, and he just can’t do it.
Last, but certainly not least, on my list of people to discuss, is my own tag partner turned enemy turned tag partner again, Mr. FPV, Frank Patrick Venable, Franky V, Super FPV, whatever the heck you want to call him. For time’s sake, I’ll call him Franky, but right now I’m not going to question the fact that Franky has a chance to win the World Title for the second time in his career at the WAR pay per view, and that if he accomplishes that and I win the WAR, there’s a very real possibility that the most intense rivalry of my career to this point match wise is going to have one more ‘final battle’ at the pay per view of pay per views, One. I have a ton of respect for the man after all that he put me through in the ring and after all the shit he took from me when we fought our matches against one another, but for the love of all things holy I hope he wins that World Championship, because i’ve never seen Franky go halfway, and if he were to lose his Championship match, there’s no way he’d be able to win the WAR because he’d be completely exhausted. So while I hope that Franky wins the World Title, if he doesn’t, I’m not concerned about him being in my way in the WAR match because, when all is said and done, he won’t even be in it after fighting for the World Championship belt.”
Hank Brown: “That certainly is saying something, Roy. You’ve analyzed quite a few names from the list of people that are going to be competing. One of the surprise entries’ names has been released, as well, and I want to know, what are your thoughts on Jay Price returning for the WAR match tonight?”
Roy Speede: “Jay Price is returning for the WAR match? Are you freaking kidding me, Hank? The guy who wasn’t supposed to be back for another year is already returning to the ring? I know I saw him wrestle on the GEW show or whatever, but at the very least, he should have the sense not to go into the match of the year with the expectation that he could perform any better than miserable, not to reference the Mayday Parade song there if I can help it. Anyway, what does he think he’s doing, Hank? He’s walking into the Lion’s den wearing a thong made out of sirloin steak from the looks of it, Hank, because everyone’s going to be all over the man who’s making his big return this week, and even if people let it slide, I’m not stupid enough to let Jay Price get the better of me, not now, and not ever, and if he thinks he’s going to win the WAR match, he better think again, because this one’s my WAR to win, and I’m not letting anybody take that from me. So as far as him making a ‘surprise’ return to compete in the WAR match, best of luck to him on his return, but, and I’m saying these words directly to your face now, Price, stay the hell out of my way. This is MY match, and if you think for a second that your sappy little return party is going to upstage me, you’ve got a rude awakening coming for you, punk.”
Hank Brown: “Well, Roy, we’ve got to wrap this thing up. Is there anything else you’d like to say before I close us down?”
Roy Speede: “Of course I’ve got some final words, Hank. I know I run my mouth about as much as anyone in the entire company, but what it all boils down to is that I’ve earned that right, and I’ve gone just about as far as any one man has ever been willing to go to put on a show for the fans without any regard for winning or losing the match, and this time it’s all changing. WAR is my match to win, and with it lingering on my fingertips right now, Hank, it’s my match to lose, also, and that just isn’t going to happen. So while you can sit and talk about how there are so many in this match who’re capable wrestlers and who could very easily walk out of this match the victor, and how there are even these ‘dark horse’ competitors who could slip in under the radar and pick up a victory from the unknown, and how the odds of any one man winning the WAR match itself may seem very dark, very bleak, just remember this: every darkness has a Silver Lining, and in the WCF, there’s only one true Silver Lining, and that Silver Lining is me. I’m going to go through this WAR match and do what everybody expects any other man on the entire roster to do. I’m going to shine bright and show why I truly belong in the main event, because I’m Roy Speede, and that’s just what I do. And that is the Silver Lining in all this, Hank.”
Hank Brown: “There you have it, folks, a Silver Lining shining through in dark times! That’s all the time we have for right now. I’m Hank Brown, wishing everyone an enjoyable show.”
Roy hands Hank back the microphone.
Roy Speede: “Thanks for the interview, Hank. But I’ve got to get going so I can be ready for the WAR match. I’ll catch you next time.”
He smirks and turns to walk away.
Hank Brown: “Good luck out there, Roy Boy!”
Roy Speede: “Hank, you don’t need luck when you’ve got just a little Silver Lining to shine through in the end.”
The scene fades to black as Roy Speede continues to walk away.
